The Daily Dose: Trump’s EPA pulls the plug on children’s health organizations; AI will replace workers but add jobs at the same time

Are the kids alright?: The Trump Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency has pulled the plug on the Columbia Center for Children’s Environmental Health and other similar organizations that monitor children’s health. According to Nature, “The 13 facilities supported by the EPA and the NIEHS are scattered in cities across the country and employ hundreds of researchers in disciplines such as toxicology, genetics and brain development.” https://go.nature.com/2VZG4lL

Digital Future: The World Health Department has announced the formation of what it calls the Digital Health Department. The new department will “work to harness the power of digital health technologies and steer developments to contribute to the attainment of all people to the highest level of health” The technical advisory group’s participants will include experts knowledgeable in the fields of artificial intelligence and health, virtual and augmented reality in healthcare, biomedical innovation, robotic surgery, wearable technologies and health and wellness, to name a few. http://bit.ly/2W2o1LU

AI as predictive technology: STAT News reports that hospitals across the country are integrating Artificial Intelligence into their workflows. They are hoping that the new technology will allow them to be better prepared for incoming patients even before setting foot into the hospital. In particular, they hope to “identify new warning signs of patient deterioration and intervene earlier in the process.” http://bit.ly/2LBroFA

AI for better or worse: A new study predicts that 1 in 5 jobs in Asia will be affected by the adoption of AIin the near future. It goes on to say that 1 in 8 jobs will be replaced by AI. Richer countries like Australia, Japan, and Korea will be affected sooner than developing countries. However, it’s not all doom and gloom. The study also indicates that AI will be a significant driver of growth in Asia and that employers are not proceeding with the intention of using AI to cut costs. This could mean an actual increase in jobs and not a loss. http://bit.ly/2LIW2wS

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